tart ☆

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Description:
macOS and Linux VMs on Apple Silicon to use in CI and other automations

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: virtualization macos linux ci-cd automation developer-tools

Install: brew install tart

About:
Tart is a virtualization tool designed specifically for Apple Silicon, enabling the creation and management of macOS and Linux virtual machines. It leverages Apple's Virtualization Framework to provide lightweight, fast VMs optimized for CI/CD pipelines and automation workflows. Its primary value is delivering native performance with minimal overhead for automated testing and development environments.

Key Features:

Native Apple Silicon virtualization using Apple's Virtualization Framework
CLI-first approach for easy automation and scripting
Support for both macOS and Linux VMs
Integration with CI systems like GitHub Actions
Lightweight with fast boot times

Use Cases:

Running CI/CD pipelines on macOS with native performance
Automated testing of applications across different macOS versions
Development environments for iOS/macOS app testing
Linux development environments on Apple Silicon Macs

Alternatives:

UTM – UTM offers a GUI and broader architecture support, while Tart is CLI-focused and optimized for automation
Docker Desktop – Docker provides containerization, Tart provides full VMs with macOS guest support
Parallels Desktop – Parallels is commercial with GUI focus, Tart is open-source and CLI/automation oriented

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 16, 2024 7:45pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	5b3e7759